Nitish Kumar mum as PM leads Vande chorus

PATNA: Silence speaks louder than words. And that was evident at a recent rally in Bihar when ally Nitish Kumar remained quietly seated while Prime Minister Narendra Modi led supporters in fervently chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.


A clip of the rally at

Darbhanga

that has gone viral shows Modi and others standing and repeatedly saying “Vande Mataram” while thrusting their clenched fists into the air. Those following the lead included LJP chief and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

Nitish stayed put in his seat with just a hint of a smile crossing his face. The clip aired by a few news channels left social media abuzz with speculation about the next move of the canny Bihar satrap, who has made many a turnaround in the last about half decade.

Asked about the Bihar CM’s gesture, party spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said his party was of the view that one’s reverence for the country could be shown in many ways and, of course, chanting “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata ki jai” were among those. “But ours is a diverse culture and we ought to respect each other’s customs. People must not be coerced into exhibiting patriotism in one particular way,” he said.

Prasad recalled the sacrifices of Paramveer Chakra awardee Havildar Abdul Hamid in the 1965 war and India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971, made possible by the military acumen of the likes of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora.

“It has to be kept in mind that the country belongs to all and nobody should be forced to do or say anything against his or her wish to prove their loyalty to the nation,” Prasad said.

Kumar has been a BJP ally for more than two decades, barring a four-year gap during which he explored alliances with the CPI and, following its failure, forged a coalition with RJD and the Congress which helped him reap a rich electoral harvest in the 2015 assembly election but was short-lived.